Tom Hanks and Rita Wilsons Relationship Timeline

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are one of few celebrity couples to have withstood the test of time. While the Forrest Gump star and his wife (an accomplished actor and singer in her own right) first started out as friends — they first met on the set of a sitcom in 1981 — their relationship slowly but surely began to blossom into something more. After making their red carpet debut as a couple in 1986, they went on to wed in 1988. Today, the dynamic duo share two children and, like every other couple, have endured ups and downs, most notably Wilson’s breast cancer diagnosis in 2015. Through thick and thin, Wilson and Hanks continue to stand by each other’s side. From their first encounter to the present day, here’s a look back at their relationship. 

1981: Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson First Meet

Hanks and Wilson first crossed paths in 1981, when she was guest-starring on an episode of the TV sitcom, Bosom Buddies,” which Hanks had starred in for two seasons before. However, the duo didn’t start dating right away — he was actually married at the time to his first wife, Samantha Lewes. (The two divorced in 1987.)

 Despite this, Wilson later revealed on a 2020 episode of the Kelly Clarkson Show that the two instantly hit it off — as friends. “One of the things, when we met, was that we just got along instantly," she said, before continuing, “First of all, I love a good storyteller [...]So anybody who could tell a good story, I'm down with that. ... I love that. He makes me laugh all the time. He's a great storyteller."

August 16, 1985: Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson Star in a Movie Together

About four years after their first encounter, Hanks and Wilson reunited to star in a feature film together, Volunteers, which premiered on August 16, 1985. In the movie, the two played on-screen lovers. According to Hanks, the sparks started flying (pretty much) instantly, telling GQ that, "Rita and I just looked at each other and — kaboing — that was that.” Additionally, "I asked Rita if it was the real thing for her, and it just couldn't be denied."

December 1986: Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson Make Their Red Carpet Debut as a Couple

Over a year after the debut of Volunteers, Hanks and Wilson made their relationship public by posing on the red carpet together at the Three Amigos movie premiere in 1986. One thing to note: While Hanks was technically still married to Lewes at the time, it was reported they were broken up long before he and Wilson coupled up.

Over the next year they attended the Oscars, the U.S. Open, and several other premiers by each other's side.

April 30, 1988: Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson Get Married

On April 30, 1988, Rita and Wilson made their love official by tying the knot. While there is little information on the proposal itself, Wilson told Access Hollywood in 2005 that when Hanks did propose to her, she didn’t “do the normal, like, 'Of course, darling. I'd love to marry you.'” Instead, she said, “I was like, 'You bet!' I was just like, 'Oh, was that too eager?' It was, like, kind of embarrassing. 'You bet.' So on the inside of my engagement ring, he had engraved 'You bet,'" she shared.

Hanks has also spoken openly about his and Wilson’s marriage. ”The success of our relationship was a matter of timing, maturity and our willingness to have an intimate connection," he revealed to Oprah Winfrey. "When I married Rita, I thought, 'This is going to require some change on my part.' I won't deny that providence was part of us finding each other, but our relationship isn't magic — the way it's shown in movies. In real life, our connection is as concrete as me sitting here. Not that marriage doesn't come close to being hell in a handbasket sometimes. But we both know that no matter what, we'll be with each other — and we'll get through it."

August 4, 1990: Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson Welcome Their First Child Together

A little over two years after getting married, Wilson gave birth to her and Hanks’ first child together, Chester, better known by his nickname, “Chet.” He has since established himself as an actor and a musician, and his flm and TV credits are impressive, having appeared in shows like Empire and Shameless along with movies such as 2008’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and 2020’w Greyhound, the latter of which his father starred. 

June 30, 1992: Tom Hanks Attends His Walk of Fame Ceremony With Rita Wilson By His Side

Hanks hit a major career milestone in 1992 when he was honored with his own star on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame. In photos from the event, Wilson is pictured beside him beaming with pride.

June 25, 1993: Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson Star in Their Second Film Together

In June 1993, Hanks and Wilson’s second film together, Sleepless in Seattle, premiered. In this beloved ‘90s rom-com, the married couple actually play siblings!  

December 26, 1995: Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson Welcome Their Second Child Together

Hanks’ and Wilson’s youngest son, Truman Theodore Hanks, was born on December 26, 1995. While Truman is Wilson’s second child, he is Hanks’ fourth (the actor had two children with his ex-wife, including Colin Hanks, who has since followed in his father’s footsteps as an actor.) Truman is also an actor and cinametogrpaher, having worked on films like Black Widow and West Side Story.

April 2002: Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson Produce a Movie Together

Hanks and Wilson showed off their skills behind the scenes as the producers of 2002’s My Big Fat Greek Wedding. The couple hten went on to film the sequel,  My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, and corresponding televisoon show, sitcom My Big Fat Greek Life, in which Wilson, who is Greek, made a minor cameo appearance.

May 2012: Rita Wilson Gushes About Tom Hanks

In an interview with Piers Morgan, Wilson revealed a tender moment she had with Hanks in New York City. "I'll never forget, we were standing on the corner of 57th and 5th in New York, or 58th and 5th," she said. "We were holding hands, and we were waiting for the traffic light to change. And he looked at me and he said, 'You know, I just want you to know, that you never have to change anything about who you are in order to be with me.' Literally, a wave of — if love is a feeling, or a cellular thing that happens to your body — it went through me, and that's pretty much who he is, and how he's been."

April 14, 2015: Tom Hanks Supports Rita Wilson During Breast Cancer Treatment

In April 2015, Wilson revealed to PEOPLE that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy. Ever the doting husband, Hanks stood by his wife’s side. “I feel blessed to have a loving, supportive husband, family, friends, and doctors and that I am the beneficiary of advances in the field of breast cancer and reconstruction,” she said at the time. In a New York Times interview, Wilson revealed she was initially nervous about Hanks’ reaction. "You never know how your spouse is going to react in a situation like this," she said, before adding, “I was so amazed, so blown away by the care my husband gave me ... who knew it would make you even closer?"

April 28, 2018: Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson Throw a 30th Wedding Anniversary Bash 

Hanks and Wilson celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in good company. Guests of their 30th wedding anniversary party — which took place in Los Angeles two days before the milestone event — included A-listers like Oprah Winfrey, Jimmy Kimmel, and Martin Short, to name a few.

March 29, 2019: Rita Wilson Attend Her Walk of Fame Ceremony with Tom Hanks By Her Side

On the same day her album, Halfway to Home, debuted, Wilson received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame — nearly 30 years after her husband. This time, it was Hanks by her side cheering her on. She went on to mention Hanks in her speech, calling him “the love of my life.” Hanks also spoke at the ceremony and had nothing but great things to say about his wife. “Her instincts are wicked sharp, and it’s more than stealing movies and rising up in the arcs of television shows and performing in hit shows on Broadway, which she has done twice," Hanks said. He continued, "Rita Wilson has pitch-perfect taste that is equal of her formidable talents."

March 2020: Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson Battle COVID-19 Together

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was revealed that Hanks and his Wilson had contracted the virus together. A month later, in April 2020, she told The Guardian that "I think that having the virus at the same time made it that little bit easier” and that the two “were taking care of each other instead of having the pressure of taking care of one person and no one taking care of you or understanding that the person at home needs a break."

April 30, 2020: Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson Celebrate Their 32nd Wedding Anniversary with an Adorable Instagram Post

A few weeks after battling COVID-19, Wilson took to Instagram to ring in their 32nd wedding anniversary. She captioned an adorable photo of them beaming, “32 years with this guy! @tomhanks Happy Anniversary, my love. Let’s go 32 more and then some!”

April 30, 2024: Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson Celebrate Ring in Their 36th Wedding Anniversary

Wilson once again celebrated her and Hanks’ wedding anniversary with a romantic Instagram post featuring a collage of pictures of them over the years. Her caption was short but oh-so-sweet: “36th anniversary! April 30,1988. “Grow old along with me; the best is yet to be.” – Robert Browning”

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